Real name. Real situation. I need advice from wise COTHers please.
By sheer luck, I have relocated and finally have the proximity to english riding + disposable income to learn to ride from a professional. Grew up riding for pleasure and have sporadically ridden as an adult by buying my own horses and doing the lowest level of non-recognized eventing schooling shows very occasionally.
I have an old injury that I am careful to protect so eventing is not an ideal discipline. I began looking for a HJ program that is willing to take on a timid beginner/intermediate adult. I’ve tried researching social media, word of mouth, asking anyone even remotely connected to HJland for recommendations, and all the rest of it…and I am getting no closer to riding than I was when I lived in the middle of nowhere.
I honestly feel like Julia Roberts, standing in the Beverly Hills boutique with disapproving saleswomen looking down their noses at me. The only emails that generated a response included the information that I have budgeted for a lease + an annual budget of 100k for showing and expenses. But even that’s not enough to join the program of the trainer who responded (haven’t heard from them since - likely because I also included that I have a career and can ride - at most - thrice weekly. I also cannot spare more than 2 weeks away from my job during the Winter circuit (and that’s only if my partners agree to cover for me).
I don’t want to end up at a lesson mill full of kids or with a trainer who does not have many years of experience, nor do I want to own again.
If the horse is out of the barn, so to speak, and it’s just too late in life for a 50-something with a demanding career and devotion to family to give this a try, could someone please tell me?
Many thanks for any advice.